File – Two female Bull Sharks swim across each other in the waters off West Palm Beach, Florida
(Getty Images/Julian Gunther)
For more than 300 years Florida has been and remains the hottest spot for shark attacks. Only one other state even broke into the top 5 in the newest ranking from the tide forecasting platform Tideschart.
Their researchers looked back at recorded attacks dating all the way back to 1642.
The Florida beach that came in at number one saw more than four times the number of shark attacks than the beach that came in second.
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(MORE: This Fish Turns Plastic Into Power)
Now, we’re not telling you to abandon your beach plans, just remember to stay aware and pay attention to all flagged warnings.
Aerial view of Palm Beach, Florida. May 2021
(Getty Images/Crystal Bolin Photography)
5. Palm Beach, Florida
Sunrise over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
(Getty Images/Alex Potemkin)
4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images/JHVEPhoto)
3. Cocoa Beach, Florida
People of the beach near waterfront hotels in Daytona Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images/Tony Arruza)
2. Daytona Beach, Florida
Tourists on enjoying the shores of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images/VisionsbyAtlee)
1. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
South of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach had more shark attacks than all the other top 5 beaches combined with 277 recorded shark attacks.
(MORE: 4 Things Shark Specialists Wish You Knew)
Shark attacks are still rare occurrences and there are simple steps you can take to help stay safe and still enjoy the ocean:
Avoid murky water.Don’t swim at dawn, dusk or at night. That’s when sharks are most active.Stay away from people fishing or schools of fish in the water.Swim with or near other people.Avoid shark hangouts: areas in between sandbars or near steep drop-offs